The proceeds from the publishing royalties of this CD go to the participating San families from the various corridors in Gobabis (Namibia) who contributed to the original recordings used for the remixes included on this album, and to the head organisation WIMSA and the Omaheka San Trust that operated locally to improve their education, health, and creating jobs and shelter. Contact: info@melt.co.za

Gina will be singing fresh arrangements of yesterday and today's top 40 hits...you've never heard them like this before. Including Adelle's "Rolling in the Deep" and "Someone Like You", Sia's "Soon We'll Be Found", Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love", Regina Spektor's "Consequence of Sounds", Pink Floyd's "Money", Colby Callait's "Fallin For You", Christina Perry's "Jar of Hearts", Fiona Apple's "Criminal", Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah", Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" and many of Gina's originals.

Jazz vocalist Gina Saputo returns to Steamers this FRI night. The Eugene, Oregon-born singer began her musical training at the age of seven in the prestigious Oregon Children's Choir. She has been recognized in Oregon's All State Choir, the All Northwest Choir, USC's Concert and University chorus, and the world famous Oregon Bach Festival Youth Academy Choir. Gina was introduced to jazz by her father and quickly developed a passion for the genre. She was, and still is, hooked on the vocals of Carmen McRae, Ernestine Anderson, Lena Horne and Ella Fitzgerald.

Gina started her professional jazz career at 16, fronting her own group, the Gina Saputo Jazz Quartet. This group played numerous gigs in Eugene's top jazz clubs and restaurants. She has been featured with Mike Denny and the University of Oregon Music Faculty All Stars, the SHS big band, the James Tarpinian trio, Group Therapy, with Shelly Berg and Frank Potenza, and the Chris Wong trio. Gina relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies.

She has also sung backup vocals for Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Neenna Freelon, Bonnie Raitt, Phil Driscoll and Louie Bellson. Her first CD, "Gina Saputo" was recorded with vocal sessions produced by Grammy award nominated vocalist Tierney Sutton, who said, "Gina has the talent as well as the passion to stretch and think outside the box." Featuring Grammy nominated pianist Gerald Clayton. After two successful tours of Japan, her CD has climbed to #3 on the prestigious Swing Journal charts, and has received rave reviews. She was a guest professor at Gwangju University in South Korea, and toured Japan a second time with Grammy nominated pianist Bill Cunliffe. Come share an evening of excessive music loving!

PRESS "One of our favorite vocalists in the contemporary jazz scene, LA-based young diva Gina Saputo...she likes to sing in Portuguese, scatting and phrasing in a very creative way, sometimes sounds like the missing link between Carmen, Basia (check his own groovy "Explain," on which she also emulates Billie), Flora and Tierney. Not to be missed." - Arnaldo DeSouteiro, Jazz Station

"Gina Saputo. In a crowded field of young female jazz singers, Saputo’s soaring vocals and rhythmic lift suggest that she’s ready to step up from the pack." - Don Heckman, LA Times & The International Review of Music

Two historical George Gruntz's albums reunited in a single CD by master producer Matthias Künnecke for Universal's JazzClub series. Includes complete data, the original liner notes written by Siegfried Schmidt-Joss and Gruntz himself, with artwork by Knut Schötteldreier and photos by Siegfried E. Loch, who produced the original LPs engineered by Peter Kramper @ Philips-Tonstudio (Meistersaal) in Berlin.

The first album, "Jazz Goes Baroque," was recorded on April 27 & 28, 1964, featuring ten works -- of such composers as Telemann, Couperin, Händel, Rameau, Pachelbel and Corelli -- adapted & jazzified by German jazz maestro George Gruntz, who exclusively plays (superbly!) harpsichord throughout the session. Besides his brilliant improvisations, flutist Emil Mangelsdorff and reedman Klaus Doldinger (of later Passport fame, here heard on clarinet & soprano sax) also shine, supported by the impeccable rhythm section of Peter Trunk (acoustic bass) and Klaus Weiss (drums).

Its follow-up "Jazz Goes Baroque 2 - The Music of Italy" (cut on March 17 & 18, 1965) focuses on Italian composers Vivaldi, Monteverdi, Albinoni, Frescobaldi, Pergolesi, Zipoli, Pasquini, Francesco Durante, Benedetto Marcello and Scarlatti. Gruntz remains on harpsichord, sharing the spotlight with four flute players: Leo Wright (the man from Jobim's debut Verve album in 1963, "The Composer of Desafinado, Plays"), Sahib Shihab (who would later record on Raul de Souza USA debut, "Colors," produced for CD reissue by Arnaldo DeSouteiro), Raymond Guiot (then the lead flutist of the Paris Opera) and Stefan von Dobrzynski (who appeared by courtesy of the Radio Free Berlin Orchestra). They are backed by drummer Daniel Humair (by then a member of the Swingle Singers vocal ensemble) and, once again, bassist Peter Trunk. The joy of music on its essence.

At the centre of JAZZ are Brazil's revolutionary vocalist Flora Purim, her sister Yana Purim (performing a duet with guitarist Quarteto Novo's guitar legend Heraldo do Monte on "Romance de Amor," a track inspired by Paul Desmond's version on his CTI masterpiece "Skylark" album), Flora's husband - percussion genius Airto Moreira - and artists who came to the label because of a direct or indirect involvement with them. Airto and his participation in many projects laid the musical foundation and direction of MELT 2000. As a consequence of the artistic freedom granted by the label boss Robert Trunz unique new styles and collaborations in the 90's evolved with a.o. the cream of UK Acid Jazz like Byron Wallen, Andrew Missingham & keyboard wiz Jessica Lauren. The label's work, under the initial guidance of Airto Moreira, is represented by late South African heroes like Sipho Gumede & Moses Taiwa Molelekwa who were strong pillars of the 90's resurgence of a vibrant local Jazz scene that led to the birth of the Cape Town Jazz Festival. Airto Moreira's 1989 sessions with his Miles Davis era mates Herbie Hancock & Stanley Clarke in Santa Barbara were released in 1994 and Sterophile chose the track “Nevermind” for their Test CD 3.

Many of MELT 2000's South African WORLD artists joined the label as a result of Robert Trunz's dedicated work in the new democratic era between 1993 and 2009 to promote the suppressed or largely ignored musical heritage of the many South and Southern African tribes. This compilation features songs by the late Zulu diva and songbird Busi Mhlongo, the angelic voice of Lungiswa from Cape Town who appears on a recording with Swiss guitarist Max Lässer.
Madala Kunene, Mabi Thobejane, Amampondo and Shiyani Ngcobo are well travelled and these days highly respected guardians of traditional music - a heritage long ignored in South Africa until globally promoted by MELT 2000. Tuvan throat singing is one particular variant of overtone singing practiced by the Tuva people of southern Siberia. Shaman and overtone singer Boris Salchack & Christy Doran worked with Airto Moreira on a unique album from which we present a track herewith.

Airto not only produced Ricky Olombelo's album - an amazing singer and percussionist from Madagascar but also took it upon him to help promote the music of the lesser known Brazilian region of Pernambuco with folkloric groups like the Banda de Pifanos - all presented on this compilation. Deepak Ram came to the attention of the World Music lovers with KITU - a track produced and licensed by MELT 2000 for the first in a series of famous BUDDHA BAR compilations which established World Music and its ambient and electronic derivatives in millions of homes across the globe.

The Electriconica MELT adventure into melting world music with electronic beats started with the 1996 release of the epic album Music With No Name Vol.1 featuring remixes by Smith & Mighty and Spring Heel Jack. Inspired by the remix pioneers of the Northern hemisphere young South African producers started KWAITO first and then evolved into Deep House which by 2008 became No.1 seller with rising international star Black Coffee, a forming member of the early S.H.A.N.A. Group. After Busi Mhlongo lost her fight against breast cancer the nation's young artist queued to remix her work following a trail of earlier Busi remixes by Soul II Black, Monde Mkhizwana, Castro B and Black Coffee riding the airwaves in South Africa. Other successful local SA artist in the Electronica section include Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, Kalahari Surfers and Pops Mohamed. The hip-hop, trip-hop sector is represented by LA outfit Eyedentity formed by Diana Booker (Airto & Flora's multi-talented daughter) and her husband Krishna Booker (Walter Booker's soon), aka Chill Factor and praised for his recent work with Sergio Mendes.

Come and help Amanda Carr celebrate this new location and music venue. Live Music from 11AM to 7PM including performances by Guitarist, Jon Finn, Al Halliday from "The Hurricanes", Suzanne McNeil, Tim Mahoney and other musical guests.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

This Friday, May 11, singer Scot Albertson will be performing a 2-set concert @ Engelman Recital Hall at the Baruch College Performing Arts Centre, featuring pianist Keith Ingham on the first set, and Sedrick Chouckron (sax & flute) and Ron Jackson (guitar) on the second part. The repertoire includes songs from Scot's latest CD, "Vibination," as well as material from his previous releases.
$15.00 Tickets are available with code BPAC15 Call the Box Office or use Code online Box Office: 646.312.5073 OR below Link http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/bpac/calendar/event.php?id=788

At its core, jazz is a music of personal expression, a concept that singer Sara Leib clearly embraces. On her new CD, "Secret Love," -- the glowing-toned mezzo-soprano gives an array of classic and contemporary material fresh, distinctive sounds.

One way that Los Angeles native Leib gives a new slant to her repertoire is to render some tunes in unusual time signatures. Cole Porter's "Night and Day" switches from 6/4 to 5/4 every eight bars, while Rodgers and Hammerstein's "It Might as Well Be Spring" has one bar of 6/4, then one of 5/4. Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster's title track alternates between 7/4 and 4/4. (Each was originally written in 4/4.)

Some songs are slightly reworked, with "So This Is Love," Al Hoffman's waltz for the Disney classic film Cinderella, done as a samba, and Ann Ronell's evergreen blues ballad, "Willow Weep for Me," given a boisterous funk arrangement.

The CD also contains more straightforward readings, like Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love," Ben Harper's "With My Own Two Hands," and the ballad, "The Way You Behold," written by Jonathan Richards with lyrics by Leib. Leib arranged all the songs save the title track, which was conceived by two friends from her undergrad days at the New England Conservatory of Music: pianist Jed Wilson and vocalist Heather Masse, now a member of the Wailin' Jennys.

"I never really set out to go, 'I'm gonna make this more complex,'" Leib says of the CD's direction. "I started to think that if I'm gonna do a song, I should do it in a way that's a little bit original. I don't think the idea necessarily is to make something more complex, but to come up with some sort of theme or some way that I think might reflect the meaning of the lyrics in a different way, either more true, less true, more sarcastic, reinterpreted."

A crew of top young jazz musicians plays on "Secret Love," which was overseen by veteran producer Matt Pierson and which was recorded in New York City. The participants include pianists Taylor Eigsti and Aaron Parks, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Eric Harland; tenor saxophonist Dayna Stephens appears on four tracks, hand percussionist Richie Barshay on five. Throughout, the musicians deliver poised accompaniment and offer provocative solos. "I was really lucky that they all said yes," notes Leib.

"Based on her previous recording and word of mouth from other musicians, I knew that Sara clearly had talent," says producer Pierson. "However, I wasn't prepared for what happened once we got into the studio. She just blew me away with her infectious spirit, pure musicianship, and incredibly deep sense of swing. But what really set her apart was her ability to integrate herself into the band, going toe-to-toe with some of the greatest instrumentalists on the jazz scene today."

Sara Leib was born in Los Angeles December 21, 1981; her father was a furniture designer, her mother a social worker. Her older brother played trumpet; years later, she mimicked the instrument's tone during wordless choruses on her first CD, 2003's self-released and warmly received "It's Not the Moon."

Leib attended L.A.'s prestigious Hamilton Music Academy, where she sang in the jazz choir and also gained a berth in the Grammy High School Jazz Choir. After two years at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, she transferred to the New England Conservatory, studying with Dominique Eade, Steve Lacy, and Jerry Bergonzi and earning a B.M. in Jazz Performance, followed by an M.M. in Jazz from the University of Southern California. She has performed throughout the world, and currently teaches at the Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music in Pasadena. Leib also gives private voice lessons and teaches classes in improvisation, singing for instrumentalists, and chart writing.

Given its depth and originality, "Secret Love" is poised to raise Sara Leib's international jazz profile.

Hailey Niswanger created an indelible impression in the jazz world with the release of her 2009 debut, "Confeddie." Then 19, the saxophonist was even the subject of an enthusiastic Wall Street Journal profile by veteran jazz critic Nat Hentoff. The headline read: "This Teenager Has Got It." Now 22, freshly graduated from the Berklee College of Music and newly residing in New York City, the alto and soprano saxophone dynamo has released her second CD, "The Keeper" (Calmit Productions), on April 24.

Unlike many of her jazz musician contemporaries, Niswanger (pronounced "NICE-wonger") unabashedly embraces the deep traditions of jazz. "Today you see a lot of artists mixing and mashing genres, but I want to stay true to jazz, I want to honor it," says Niswanger, a native of Houston who was raised in Portland, Oregon. "While I listen to all kinds of music -- classical, jazz, R&B, hip-hop -- I want to be known primarily as a jazz artist." "The Keeper" certainly backs up that aim.

The CD includes eight engaging Niswanger compositions, reflecting a wealth of modern and contemporary jazz moods, as well as classics by Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Cole Porter. Her colleagues on the session are pianist Takeshi Ohbayashi, bassist Max Moran, and drummer Mark Whitfield Jr., plus, on three selections, guest trumpeter Darren Barrett. These inventive musicians are all associates from her days at Berklee, where she completed her B.Mus. in Jazz Performance late last year.

The time-shifting title track (and the album itself) is dedicated to Jeff Cumpston, her high school band director who died in a traffic accident in Zimbabwe, where he taught elementary school. The percolating "Straight Up," which reveals, as elsewhere, what an amazingly mature player Niswanger is on both alto and soprano, was written for onetime Eddie Harris trumpeter Thara Memory, an afterschool arts program instructor during her high school days. "He changed my life, speaking exactly what he felt about my playing, my behavior, everything," says the composer.

My personal favorite track, the sweetly-swinging "Norman," which showcases Niswanger's rich alto sound, is for 94-year-old Portland resident Norman Leyden, who has been an influence since the saxophonist was 10; "'B' Happy," a potent blues written for two beloved childhood toys, spotlights the crisp work of drummer Whitfield -- to whom the buoyant waltz, "Balance," is dedicated.

Speaking of pianist Ohbayashi, she could be describing the contributions of all her bandmates: "No matter what direction I decide to go in, I know he's going to pull through brilliantly." He does, and they do. Hailey Niswanger began her musical life with piano at age 5, then took up clarinet at age 8 and saxophone at age 10. She also played accordion for several years. "I was playing all the time," she says.

After graduating from Portland's West Linn High School in 2008, she entered Berklee. There she was named a member of the inaugural class (as were her bandmates Ohbayashi and Whitfield) of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, under the artistic direction of Danilo Perez. In 2009, Niswanger became the alto saxophonist in Boston's eclectic Either/Orchestra, a position previously held by Miguel Zenon and Jaleel Shaw. The first female member of the band in its 25-year history, Hailey remained with E/O until early 2012, when she moved to Brooklyn to focus on recording and developing the next phase of what is sure to be a brilliant career.

Hailey Niswanger is looking forward to an appearance at the Saratoga (NY) Jazz Festival, Sat. 6/30 (12:15 pm), with other dates to be announced very soon. <
Web Site: http://www.haileyniswanger.com/

COVER STORY
Esperanza Spalding -- Jazz bassist/vocalist/composer Esperanza Spalding talks to DownBeat about a whirlwind year in which she won the Grammy for Best New Artist, toured the world, and recorded one of the most anticipated CDs of 2012.

FEATURES
Gil Evans -- On the centennial of his birth, DownBeat celebrates the life and legacy of the legendary composer/arranger/bandleader Gil Evans (1912-1988).

Stefano Bollani -- DB catches up with the prolific Italian pianist, who collaborated with Chick Corea on the 2011 CD Orvieto.

Jimmy Owens -- The trumpeter and 2012 NEA Jazz Master talks about his new CD, The Monk Project which include collaborations with Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Strickland and Kenny Barron.

Special Section:
Reed School -- Master Class by flutist Ali Ryerson, a Joshua Redman saxophone solo transcribed, Pro Session by James Carter, feature story on saxophonist Steve Lehman, and more in our annual reed-themed issue.

Special Section: Summer Festival Guide -- The annual International Summer Festival Guide is a definitive guide to jazz fests worldwide! Includes features on Detroit Jazz Festival, Brazil's Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues Festival and Top Acts to see on '12 Festival Circuit.